are there any gay nhl players

As of early 2026, there are no openly gay players currently active in the NHL, but there is one openly gay player under NHL contract who is close to the league and could become the first out gay NHL player in history.

Current situation in the NHL

The NHL is the only major North American men’s pro sports league that has never had an openly gay player on an active roster during regular-season play. While many players and teams have shown support for LGBTQ+ inclusion (like wearing Pride jerseys and participating in “Hockey Is For Everyone” initiatives), no current NHL player has publicly come out as gay while still playing in the league.

Former players and insiders believe there are almost certainly closeted gay or queer players in the league, but the culture and fear of backlash have kept them from coming out publicly.

The closest: Luke Prokop

The most prominent openly gay player connected to the NHL is defenseman Luke Prokop, drafted by the Nashville Predators in 2020. In July 2021, at age 19, he came out publicly as gay, becoming the first active player under NHL contract to do so.

Prokop has played in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Bakersfield Condors (Edmonton Oilers’ affiliate) and has been praised for his play and leadership. If he gets called up to the Oilers’ NHL roster, he would become the first openly gay player in NHL history.

Other openly gay hockey players

• Brock McGillis is widely recognized as the first openly gay professional hockey player, coming out in 2016 after retiring from a semi-pro career that included the OHL and minor leagues. He now works as an LGBTQ+ advocate and speaker in hockey.

• In the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) , there are many out LGBTQ+ players, including several who are openly gay. The women’s game has been more visibly inclusive so far.

Why no out NHL players yet?

Several factors are often cited:

• Culture and locker-room norms : Hockey has a long-standing, hyper-masculine culture where homophobic language and “locker room talk” have been common, making it harder for gay players to feel safe coming out.

• Fear of backlash : Players worry about fan reactions, media scrutiny, and how it might affect their careers, contracts, and endorsements.

• Lack of role models : With no openly gay NHL player yet, there’s no recent example for current players to follow, which can make the step feel riskier.

What fans and players say

Surveys and forum discussions show that most NHL players say they would accept an openly gay teammate, but there’s still a gap between that attitude and the reality of coming out. Many fans and allies say they would support a gay player, while others acknowledge that online and in-person homophobia still exists in parts of the fanbase.

What might change in the future?

• Media and pop culture : Shows like Heated Rivalry (a gay hockey romance series) have sparked conversations about whether such stories could help normalize gay players in the NHL, though some former players like Brock McGillis are skeptical that it will actually make it easier for real players to come out.

• Minor league progress : With players like Luke Prokop thriving in the AHL and being supported by their organizations, many hope that the first openly gay NHL player is just a matter of time.

Bottom line

Right now, there are no openly gay players on NHL rosters, but the league is closer than ever to having one. Luke Prokop is the most likely candidate to break that barrier if he makes the jump to the NHL, and his journey is being closely watched by LGBTQ+ advocates and hockey fans alike.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.